I love them, too! I bet they'll enjoy seeing their black cups looking more filmy in their pale reincarnation. It's more "watercolor-y!" (It's what you do so well, and that's why they want YOU to do them, Carol--remember that!) Those are all marvelous...(aren't we always our own worst critics!?) good luck!

These are just lovely. I'm sorry I don't know anything more technical and helpful to say, but they did make me smile and crave something warm to drink--which is saying something as I'm sitting in the heat in southern Italy :)

Your paintings are always beautiful and your practicing and experimenting are paying off. I am getting the FEEL of them being black. Especially good is the cup you like best.As an oil painter dabbling in watercolor I have a high respect for anyone doing watercolors. It isnt easy to do what YOU do in watercolors. Much easier for me to do Oils. So keep up the good work. WE like it, REALLY REALLY like it...ALL. ;-)Cris in OR

I'm such an amateur. So I have an amateur question. Is it just not okay to use a black watercolor? Like in the Crayola sets of childhood? I never even thought about painting something black as being difficult but I'm learning every day. I'm always just so impressed by your paintings of objects that are glass or clear. That seemed like the hardest thing but once again, I'm coming from colored pencils and never had my mind think of giving glass a color to define it and wouldn't even try (until now, thanks to you!).

I think it's great that you're trying new things! And who can't relate to procrastinating while trying to create?

I love all the paintings, and I love the photo of the samples.I do not understand a lot about art, but as a lay person the yellow macaron on the last painting looks a bit like sitting on the edge of the cup. I guess you intended it that way. So please do not take it as a critic, just the opinion of an uneducated onlooker.

After reading your post today I don't wonder you got chocolate all over your keyboard. You are overdosing on the stuff. Stay calm and keep painting those black cups. People think black is easy and I know it isn't (mainly 'cos you told me) but I think you are doing a sterling job, as we English say.

What I'm going to say probably isn't very helpful in the critical sense, but it's the truth. I really really enjoyed looking at all these different configurations and I truly think the all have something wonderful in them. I hope it's not mean to say, but if it means we keep getting to look at all these beautiful things, I kind of hope you "struggle" for a bit longer.

I'm loving those black cups...and I know you'll get them just the way you want them. Persistence and practice...we talk about those characteristics a lot around my house--wherever that house might be!!

Hi - I've been visiting your blog for several weeks now - I love it! Thanks for the beautiful artwork, entertaining posts, and reminders of Paris.I saw the lovely tribute to your blog at Little FrenchGardenHouse - very nice - and thought I should tell you in person that I am totally enjoying my visits to your blog.

i've said it before and I'll say it again, your blog is so wonderful to read! It's like a mini-holiday.Thank you.I read about a watercolor artist putting a wash of yellow down, letting it dry, then putting a wash of black on top for a bright black. It doesn't do anything for me, but you might want to try.

"I've been trying to figure out how to paint BLACK cups or just anything BLACK..."May I first suggest seeing black round objects. I am sure you are aware that verticle highlights on a round cup suggest volume. Therefore you need to either leave white paper for those highlights or "gosh" paint opaque white in. Yuk. Anyway, to "see" those hight lights, get some white card and cover a few with aluminum foil as well. Place these just to the rear and a tiny bit to the left and right of the edges of the black cup and if you rotate them and tilt them they will catch light and reflect off the shiny surface of the black cup, bending with the curve of the cup revealing the true honest rendering of the edge of the object. How to actually paint this, I can't suggest, since I never spent enough time painting water colors. (when I was a kid.)Love your work and words!Steve in Chicago

PARIS in yr Mailbox!

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5 and I'm still at it. Now I live by the Seine on l'Ile Saint-Louis. Do consider subscribing to my Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a taste of Paris in your mailbox every month to savor with a hot chocolate and croissant. I paint Paris dreams.